O Come, O Come Emanuel: Christ as the Key of David

O Antiphon for December 21

Latin:

O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel;

qui aperis, et nemo claudit;

claudis, et nemo aperit:

veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris,

sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

English:

O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel;

you open and no one can shut;

you shut and no one can open:

Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house,

those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

O Come, O Come Emanuel

Latin:

Veni, Clavis Davidica,

regna reclude caelica,

fac iter tutum superum,

et claude vias inferum.

Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel,

nascetur pro te Israel!

English:

O come, Thou Key of David, come,

and open wide our heav'nly home,

make safe the way that leads on high,

and close the path to misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emanuel

shall come to thee, O Israel.

 

Scripture references: Isaiah 9:7; 22:22; 42:7